title: Is antimicrobial prophylaxis of urinary tract infections cost effective?
abstract: Antimicrobial prophylaxis prevents recurrent urinary tract infections in susceptible women, but its cost effectiveness has not been studied. In a recent placebo-controlled trial of urinary prophylaxis, we also assessed cost effectiveness using a decision analysis model. In our hospital the direct cost of 1 patient year of urinary prophylaxis approximates the cost of treating one episode of cystitis. In women with a baseline infection rate of three per patient year, the annual cost of prophylaxis ($85.82) was less than treatment of acute episodes of infection ($392.30). Sensitivity analyses showed that in women with three infections per year, prophylaxis became cost effective when charges per episode exceeded $42.00. In women with frequent episodes of cystitis, prophylaxis will be cost effective in most practice settings.
mesh_terms: D000892:Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003556:Cystitis / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000517:prevention & control; D012008:Recurrence; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000892:Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary